Furnishing Frontiers

Take iconic designer pieces, merge with cutting-edge industrial chic, layer over woods and velvets, then top with a little Danish design.

 

 

It’s a season of extremes. From bold and beautiful rooms to those that display quiet good taste, interiors today are all about attitude. The key is to choose a mood and commit to it: uncertain, wishy-washy schemes are seldom successful.

 

Furniture also covers the spectrum, from tried-and-true designer classics, such as Barcelona chairs and the Le Corbusier chaise longue, to modern takes on old favourites: La-Z-Girl, anyone? Naturally, perennial materials such as wood remain firm favourites for furniture but they’re increasingly being shaped into home accessories as well.

 

Feathers and bird motifs continue to flock into our rooms as decorative elements and there are also impressive ranges of well-executed, functional objects for those with a plainer, more utilitarian aesthetic.

Quiet & subdued
Keep up the interest at the quieter end of the spectrum with texture, layering, contrast and robust yet muted hues. Juxtapose gauzy chiffons with chunky linens; corrugated sisal with glossy surfaces; streamlined items with battered antiques. Opt for sumptuous, tactile velvets in plain rose pinks and pale, silvery taupe. Printed and embroidered velvets are decorative yet demure. Versatile velvet, either with a soft sheen or a matt finish, can be used to cover an entire sofa or to make a single cushion – it’s up to you. A thoughtful choice of paint colour for walls will add depth and character to a room while maintaining a subtle dignity. Check out these Resene neutrals: ‘Secrets’, ‘Perfect Taupe’ and ‘Inside Back’.

 

Birds of a feather
All things bird-related are still right on trend. Feather-trimmed cushions, old-fashioned quill pens and fabrics starring birdlife will ensure your home doesn’t fly in the face of fashion. Iittala’s highly collectable range of glass birds in a variety of moods and sizes continues the theme. Those who think that feathered treasures are simply for the birds – but who still have a soft spot for wildlife – can consider new vinyl ranges with exotic finishes, including snake, eel and crocodile.

 

Wooden it be nice?
From rustic to tailored, bleached to dark-stained – wood in its various guises is always a welcome and organic addition to any space. Based in Arrowtown, Cruikshank Furniture has its own collection of timeless, handmade furniture, crafted in black walnut, oak and maple; it also offers a bespoke design service. A UK-trained cabinetmaker, Ed Cruikshank spent nine years as a designer for the Queen’s nephew David Linley, a bespoke furniture-maker himself. Black walnut is Ed’s medium of choice for its tactile nature, elegant grain and ability to blend into any decor. On a smaller scale, Scandinavian designers are excelling in wooden accessories that are very of the moment. Very appealing, expressive birds from Danish designers ArchitectMade are available in three sizes in either natural or smoked oak wood. Tonfisk Design from Finland has created streamlined ceramic teapots and cups and clad them in laminated walnut or oak surrounds.

 

Classics
You can’t beat the iconic designer pieces that have stood the test of time, says Alan Bertenshaw of Matisse. “People are becoming more interested in furniture classics from the 1940s and 50s, such as designs by Charles and Ray Eames and Le Corbusier.” He predicts that furniture by contemporary designers Antonio Citterio and Piero Lissoni will become classics of the future. Though fad furniture can quickly lose its appeal, true classics will not – their longevity will ensure that they can be handed down from generation to generation.

Functional
The days of having to choose form over function and vice versa are long gone. Designers are creating salt cellars, citrus squeezers and even toilet brush sets – all as beautiful as they are useful. But it’s the recent advance in outdoor textiles that are truly jaw-dropping. Today, there is a plethora of wonderfully patterned fabrics and even velvets that are made to withstand the elements. Hose them down, even chlorine-wash them, and they’re as good as new. Your patio and garden settings have never been more stylish and functional.

 

Modern twists
Ponsonby-based furniture designer Fiona McLeod, whose eclectic range includes art deco tea trolleys and cushions in Florence Broadhurst fabrics, specialises in giving retro pieces a fresh twist. One of her recent designs is the sassy Lazy Girl chair. Complete with deep-buttoned back, adjustable footrest and a side pocket for magazines, its origins are rooted in the ubiquitous La-Z-Boy recliner rocker. Watch out for contemporary interpretations of toile de Jouy fabrics, especially from the French houses. The typical pastoral, oriental and musical scenes, traditionally rendered in a single colour, now come in daring combinations such as orange and crimson. There’s also been a shift from a cotton sateen base cloth to linen and silk bases.

 

Bold & beautiful
Strong distinctive furniture will give any room a lift. A case in point is the ‘Diana’ series of occasional tables by German designer Konstantin Grcic, which defy definitive classification. Side tables? Lecterns? The short answer is: they’re whatever you want them to be. Constructed from powder-coated sheet metal, a ‘Diana’ table has an industrial edge that’s likely to be at home in more contemporary settings – and to inject a dash of intelligence and imagination to your space. Similarly, the addition of quirky accessories, highly patterned textiles and in-your-face colour will keep the impact factor high. Look for vases depicting the human face, stylised art deco and art nouveau motifs and acid yellows mixed with black. n
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Please see the photo gallery for detailed trend styling images.